Frustrating Lice Re-Infestation (part 2)
headlice July 31st, 2008
Now that Rachel had been trained by professional lice removers, she felt in control of the lice problem. It was very obvious to Rachel within a few days that Tammy's hair was really lice and nit free. She relaxed, continuing the maintenance daily for two weeks, as we advised. At that point, Tammy's lice infestation was history.
At least is should have been.
Tammy was back to her regular pre-school routine. Rachel continued to check Tammy's head for nits anyway from time to time. Two weeks later, Rachel found about 5 nits in one area of Tammy's hair. Rachel's mom called us again. She was concerned. A few nits in one place, is a sign that a live louse is or has been laying eggs again. Lice tend to lay eggs in clusters. If a nit or two survived the initial lice treatment, the 2 week maintenance would absolutely have removed them. Perhaps Rachel had not really done the lice removal maintenance, wondered the grandmother.
We treated Tammy again with a comprehensive lice nit comb-out, and found no sign of infestation. Rachel had already combed-out Tammy's hair, and there was no sign of lice or nits. This scenario continued on and off for months. Tammy's hair was tied back, in a bun or a ponytail every day. She was using the Licenders Lice Repellent. Rachel would do the lice combing for a two weak period, and then about one week later, would notice a cluster or two of nits again in Tammy's hair. Rachel's mom was criticizing Rachel's care of her granddaughter. As far as we could tell, Rachel was in fact doing the nit combing properly. The lice problem was creating stress within the family.
And then the Summer began. One little member of Tammy's playgroup left to vacation with her family in the mountains for a month. And the cycle of lice and nits ended. Just like that. No more lice. No more nits!
to be continued
comb out lice nits Lice lice combing nit combing nits